UN Security Council concerned about civilian casualties in south Darfur

The UN Security Council on Friday voiced its concerns over the civilian casualties in the wake of the fighting in the Kalma camp in South Darfur of Sudan.

Nigerian UN Ambassador Joy Ogwu, who holds the rotating Council presidency for July, made the remarks as she was reading a statement to the reporters here at the end of the closed-door Council meeting on the situation in Darfur, western Sudan.

"The Council expressed concern about the civilian casualties, which have resulted from clashes in the camps," the statement said.

Five people were killed after fighting took place again on Thursday in the Kalma camp in south Darfur, reports said.

Eight people were killed and dozens were injured after refugees who oppose the peace talks fought with those who support the Qatar- mediated peace negotiations in a refugee camp in western Darfur, the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID, said on Friday.

"The Council also expressed concern about continued attacks against UNAMID and called on all parties to cooperate with UNAMID, " the statement said. "The Council called on all parties to join the Doha peace process."

"The Council unanimously welcomed the steps that UNAMID is taking," the statement added.

The UNAMID took over the peacekeeping task in Darfur from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) on Dec. 31, 2008.

Source: Xinhua